Biographical and historical record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana : containing portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Jay and Blackford Counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families and a concise history of Jay and Blackford Counties and their cities and villages., Part 29

Author:
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 922

USA > Indiana > Jay County > Biographical and historical record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana : containing portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Jay and Blackford Counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families and a concise history of Jay and Blackford Counties and their cities and villages. > Part 29
USA > Indiana > Blackford County > Biographical and historical record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana : containing portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Jay and Blackford Counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families and a concise history of Jay and Blackford Counties and their cities and villages. > Part 29

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Slack Church, Wesleyan Methodist, is in the southern part of Jackson Township. The society intend building a house of worship soon.

The first marriage in Jackson Township was that of Addison D. May and Lucinda Pingry, November 6, 1834, by William Odle, Esq., of Deerfield.

The first death was that of Aaron Rigby'

in September, 1837. The coffin was made of puncheons, by Joshua Bond.

Silas Pingry was a justice in this township for seventeen years. He married two pairs of twin sisters out of the same family! The first name of each of the husbands was John.

In 1857-'58 Abel Lester ran a pottery in Jackson Township.

Jackson Township assumed a separate or- ganization on the first Monday of April, 1839, when a board of officers were elected.

M. W. Montgomery, in his little history, relates the following circumstance: " During a thaw in the winter of 1837-'38, James Snow, father of Dr. B. B. Snow, then about sitxy years old, who lived six inilcs northwest of Portland, started on foot to Camden to procure some tobacco. He was thinly clad, and the weather began to turn colder, and to snow, which, on his return, made him quite wet, and also concealed the trace he was fol- lowing. There remained then only the blazes on the trees, but these were soon covered by the snow, and he lost the track entirely. Finding that he was suffering from the cold despite all his exercise, he endeavored to re- trace his steps to Camden. This he found very tedious work, and soon impossible, on account of the darkness. Becoming alarmed for his safety, he wandered about and called loudly for aid, but received no answer. By this time he was discouraged and exhausted. He had waded across runs and low places until his lower extremities were very wet; his clothing was freezing upon him, and he had eaten nothing since early in the morning. He was forced to choose between an effort to save his life by exercising all night or sub- mit to his fate. Being drowsy, he was strongly inclined to the latter course. Fin- ally he sought a clear, level place between two large trees, and there continued walking and running from one to the other until morn-

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SMALLER TOWNS.

ing! His family, supposing he was lost, pro- cured the assistance of some neighbors, and at daylight went in search of him. About nine o'clock in the forenoon they found him, crawling on his back track and badly frozen. He was a long time recovering."

GREENE TOWNSHIP.

An expert hunter and noted pioneer, named Thomas J. Shaylor, was the first settler in this township, in 1833. About the year 1835 came William and Greenbury Coffin, John Ripe and Bennett Goodson; in 1836 came Nathan Perry, William Bach, Samuel Routh, Henry De Long, Sr., Joseph Hiatt, Elon Ewers and George P. Piles; in 1837, G. C. Whiteman ; in 1838, Jacob Duggan and Jacob Hiser. Shaylor died near Camden. None of the above are now supposed to be living. Timberlake moved away. Whiteman was a Methodist minister and probate judge from 1839 to 1852, when the office was abolished.

This township was organized in 1838. The first justice of the peace in the township was Samuel Routh. He and C. I. Timberlake being from Greene County, Ohio, named the township in honor of that county. On Mon- day, April 1, 1839, the first election was held, at which a full board of officers were elected, at the house of Joseph De Long. At this election Joseph De Long, Sr., was inspector; J. Timberlake and Joseph Hiatt, judges; Henry De Long, Sr., and Henry Robinson, clerks. The following officers were elected: Trustees, Samuel Routh, Henry De Long, Sr., Henry Robinson; clerk and treasurer, C. I. Timberlake; overseers of the poor, George C. Whiteman, Bennett Goodson; fence viewers, Samuel Routh, Henry Robinson; supervisor, Samuel Routh. The second justice of the peace was C. I. Timberlake, with George P. Piles as constable.

On the 6th of April, 1839, the trustees met

and divided the township into three road districts. The supervisors appointed were as follows: Road District No. 1, Christopher I. Timberlake; No. 2, Samuel Routh; No. 3, William Bunch.

The following was duly recorded under date of November 27, 1839: "At a meeting of the trustees, it was ordered that William Jones and Benjamin J. Gillam should open that part of the road running across the northeast cor- ner of the township, which road was not known to the Board at the April meeting, neither were the above men known to them."

At the spring election of 1840, there were twenty-six votes cast; at the November elec- tion, twenty-two votes, of which thirteen were for Van Buren, and nine for Harrison.

Rev. Wade Posey, who was then on the Winchester Circuit of the Methodist Episcopal Church, preached the first serinon in the township, at Rev. G. C. Whiteman's. (See also conclusion of chapter on "Settlement.")

The first school in the township was taught in the winter of 1845-'46, in a school-house near James Whaley's.

Greene is a hamlet containing a store, post- office, two churches, saw-mill, etc. The post- office was established May 22, 1862, with John Stricker as the postmaster.

Blaine is a flag station on the Lake Erie & Western Railroad four and a half miles south- west of Portland, platted on ten acres of ground by R. T. Hammons in 1883. Moses Johnson is the merchant and deputy post- master of the place. A steam saw-mill is operated by William Primer, the proprietor. A handle and fork factory is operated by its owner, Emerson Blackmore, who is also the postmaster. Blaine has about fourteen fami- lies.

Willow Chapel, Methodist Episcopal, was built on a lot donated by William Campbell, and dedicated June 16, 1879, by Rev. E. Karus.

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HISTORY OF JAY COUNTY.

It is a frame building, large enough to seat about 250 persons.

Union Methodist Episcopal Church is a frame building, 32 x 40 feet, seating 200, and was dedicated in the fall of 1872, by Rev. N. H. Phillips.

Mount Zion Metliodist Protestant Church is a log building, erected in 1884. There are twenty-eiglit members here, ministered to by Rev. B. F. Sturgis. Mr. Corkwell is class- leader and Sunday-school superintendent.

Christian Chapel was built on a lot donated by James Dugan, Sr. It is a frame building, 30 x 40 feet.

The United Brethren Church, on the south- west corner of section 29, is an old frame building, still occupied by the society.

Hopewell United Brethren Church near Greene postoffice, was erected in 1861. The society is quite strong, numbering 104. The present pastor is Rev. P. C. Bechdolt; class- leader, George Hogeland.

KNOX TOWNSHIP.

The first settler in this township was John Brooks, in 1824. (See first chapter.) At first he built a small house near the present resi- dence of Jacob Gaunt. Here, his son Allen, was born March 4, 1824, which was the first birth among the settlers in the township. In November, 1836, Adam Zigler came into the township as the second settler. In 1837 came John and Joseph Gaunt, Michael Ro- land, Joshua Bowen and William White. In 1838, came Minor Dye, William Hoskins and Seth Armitage; in 1839, A. B. Beard and A. C. Smith; in 1840, James Spencer; in 1841, John Giger, Sr., John Bergdoll, and Joseph Whitacre.

Allen Brooks is deceased, but his widow is still living in this township.

The first orchard in the connty was raised from seeds planted by Mrs. Mary Brooks. These seeds were from seven apples brought from the Great Miami, in Southern Ohio. She raised them on what is known as the Godfrey Farm, and then brought the young trees, thirty-three in number, and planted thiem on what is known as the Brooks Farm, at Cherry Grove, in the southeast corner of this town- ship. These trees are still standing as vener- able monuments to the brave couple who came here nearly three-score years ago and endured the hardships of pioneer life.

There are twenty-four sections of land in the township. The country is generally rolling, and is drained by Mud Creek to the northeast, and by Brooks Creek in the eastern part. This last creek takes its name from the first settler of the township, and along its banks may be found some of the best farms in the county.

This was the last township organized in the county, and was organized on the petition of A. C. Smith and Joseph Gaunt, by whom it was named. The first election was held in March, 1839, at the house of Joseph Gaunt, at which seven votes were polled, resulting in the election of the following officers: Trustees, A. C. Smith, Michael Roland and Joseplı Gaunt; clerk, Cornelius Sinith; justice of the peace, Joseph Gaunt; constable, Adam Zigler. As the old township name of Salamonia had not been given to any of the new townships, Jacob Bosworth, one of the commissioners, insisted that at least the last township should have that name; but Mr. Gaunt wanted it named after Knox County, Ohio, and his request was finally granted.

The first death in the township was that of Mrs. Jane Beard, wife of A. B. (Brittan) Beard. She died in the fall of 1839, and was buried in the township cemetery.

The first school in the township was taught

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in the winter of 1838-'39, by Cornelius Smith. Oak Grove Methodist Episcopal Church was a frame 32 x 42 feet, built on a lot dona- ted by Caleb Wingate, and dedicated in 1874,

by Rev. A. J. Hill. In February, 1887, it was burned down, and immediately the trus- tees let a contract for the erection of a new building, at $990.

لنا:

تاكنة

خاميتم

BIOGRAPHICAL

SKETCHES.

yours Truly. Jonas Votaw

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ONAS VOTAW, one of the leading and influential citizens of Jay County, was born January 1, 1813, near New Lisbon, Columbiana County, Ohio, being the tentli and youngest child, and the only one now living, of John and Rebecca (Burson) Votaw. His father was of French descent, his mother being of Scotch ancestry. They belonged to the Society of Friends, and were married in a Quaker church, in Loudoun County, Vir- ginia, in accordance with the usual custom of that society, the date of their marriage being January 9, 1793. The father was a blacksmith by occupation, and manufactured all kinds of edged tools then in use, farming utensils, etc. He made the knives, forks, plates, and also furniture with which he and his wife began housekeeping. By strict economy and close application to his trade, he accumulated a little money. In the fall of 1796, they left their native county, having two horses on which they loaded their cloth-

ing, placing their few goods on pack saddles, crossing the Allegheny Mountains, and locat- ing in Harrison County, West Virginia, where the father bought land on which he made his home seven or eight years. He then sold liis land and with his family, then consisting of wife and six children, he moved to Columbiana County, Ohio, in the fall of 1803, where he purchased a section of Gov- ernment land, five miles west of New Lisbon. He sold 160 acres of this land. retaining 480 acres which he paid for by working at his trade. He was a skilled and reliable work- man, and his patrons came to his shop a dis- tance of from ten to twenty miles in the early settlement of the country. His son Jonas, the subject of this sketch, had but limited educational advantages in his youth, only attending the common district school four terms of three months each between the age of twelve and sixteen years. Prior to reaching the age of twelve years he had been

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HISTORY OF JAY COUNTY.

taught at home by his parents. From six- teen until attaining the age of twenty-one years he was engaged in farming on his father's farm. For two years from the age of twenty-one to twenty-three years he was engaged in burning wood into charcoal, mak- ing 100,000 bushels of charcoal from about 2,- 000 cords of wood, and sold the same to Hughes & Doyle, this firm using charcoal furnaces in the manufacture of iron, nails and castings. This work was very laborious, requiring con- stant attention both night and day, Mr. Vo- taw having three coal pits burning most of the time, and not sleeping more than four or five hours during the day. From this labor of a little over two years he realized a net profit of $600. Desiring to travel and see more of the world, he made a safe deposit of his money, and November 1, 1835, contracted with Captain McIntoch of Wellsville, Ohio, for $40 a month, and was one of four inen to row two large flat boats, 40 x 80 feet, lashed together, making a surface of 40 x 80 feet. This boat was loaded with different kinds of produce to supply the wants of the people on the Lower Mississippi, and the trip, including the coast trade on the lower Mississippi, em- braced a period of almost five months. Al- though attended with many exciting incidents, both romantic and dangerous, such as passing over the falls of the Ohio River at Louis- ville, and the eddies and whirlpools of the lower Mississippi, the trip was much enjoyed. The Captain was an experienced man, this being his nineteenth trip, and landed them safe- ly at New Orleans February 1, 1836, with his goods mostly sold. Mr. Votaw remained at New Orleans ten days, viewing the city, and February 10, 1836, he embarked on a large steamboat, bound for Louisville with astock of oranges and lemons, which were sold in Cincin- nati, the profit of these more than paying steamboat fare. He proceeded to Richmond,

Indiana, for a short visit to relatives and friends, and was very favorably impressed with the country. At that time there was much talk and excitement about the sale of cheap Government lands at Fort Wayne and North- ern Indiana, and Mr. Votaw resolved to invest his small means in the purchase of lands. He accordingly returned to his native home, collected his money, and started on foot and alone for Fort Wayne, Indiana, arriving at his destination about the middle of May, 1836. He was there informed that the re- ceiver's office was closed, and would remain so about two months, and this gave him a good opportunity to explore and prospect for land. He received much information and kind advice from Mr. Brackenridge, the Registrar of the land office. After remaining three days at Fort Wayne he started for the wilds of Northern Indiana, sometimes going from ten to twenty miles between cabins and settlements, passing through a part of De Kalb, Noble and LaGrange counties, entering the State of Michigan at Sturgis, going on to Kalamazoo, which at that time had but a dozen sınall houses. Finding that the Mich- igan land had been taken up he returned to Fort Wayne, and in the meantime he had taken the numbers of forty-six tracts of land, numbering from first to forty-sixth choice. At this time the country was full of land hunters, and at the opening of the land office at Fort Wayne, about July 1, 1836, there were at least 2,000 people in the village, most of whom were land buyers from New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Ohio, and the speculators and money sharks took advantage of the honest, unsuspecting land buyers, get- ting the number of their lands, to come in conflict with them. Then for the sole purpose of making money they would offer to release and compromise for $50 or $100, called hush money. Mr. Brackenridge, seeing how mat-

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ters stood, gave notice to those desiring to enter land to prepare their numbers by section, township and range by writing, and hand the same into his office the following morning, and that no other entries would be mnade until those applications were gone through with, and this to a great extent stopped the land sharks from imposing on the people. Mr. Votaw had to remain in Fort Wayne fifteen days before his entries could be reached, he finally entering five eighty acre lots, four hundred acres in all, his selections being among the choicest tracts of land, one tract being on the north branch and another on the south of the Elkhart River. All of said land he sold within three years of the date of entry, receiving on an average $7 per acre before any tax had accrued thereon, Government land being exempt from taxa- tion for five years from date of purchase. IIe had paid for these lands $1.25 an acre. After closing his purchases at Fort Wayne Mr. Votaw, with sixteen other eastern land bnyers, purchased a large canoe, in which they floated down the Maumee River to Toledo, then a village of not more than fif- teen houses, and from there proceeded to Cleveland by steamer, subsequently reaching his home in Columbiana County, Ohio, with but sixpence in his pocket. The news of his land purchase created no little excitement among his relatives and former associates, and in the fall of the same year his father, John Votaw, his brother-in-law, Preston Beck, and James Ferrel offered to pay Mr. Votaw's expenses if he would pilot them to Fort Wayne, which offer he accepted, and all mounted on good horses they soon arrived at their destination. There learning that the choice land had all been sold in northern In- diana, they went to Jay County, where they found an unbroken forest of heavy timber land subject to entry, and here his father

bought 400 acres, Preston Beck 240 and James Ferrel eighty acres located on the Limberlost Creek near the present site of the village of Westchester. These three gentle- men then returned to their homes, and our subject went to his lands in Noble County, where he remained over a year, making some improvements, and in the meantime cut and split 6,000 rails for other parties. He still kept his plats in Noble, La Grange and Elk- hart counties marked up by sending them to the registrar of the land office, thus being able at all times to show the vacant lands to those wishing to purchase, which occupation he followed when called on. He was an ex- pert woodsman, often making as high as $5 a day. In the fall of 1837 he was taken sick with bilions malarial fever, followed by an attack of ague, and on recovering he re- turned to his native home in the latter part of 1838. He remained with his father the following summer and winter, recuperating his health and helping on the farm. In the fall of 1838 his father, with his two sons, John, Jr., and Isaac, sold their farms, and in the spring of 1839 came with our subject to Jay County, Indiana, and settled on their land near Westchester. The father having money hired help, and in a little over one year he had fifty acres of cleared land. In the fall of 1840 he was taken sick with typhus fever and died September 7, 1840, in his seventy-first year, his death being a source of great grief to his family. He had left a home, surrounded with all the necessary com- forts of life, and many friends and relatives in Ohio, where, with such a constitution as his, he might have been spared for many years. Jonas Votaw, having previously pur- chased 280 acres of land in the vicinity of Westchester, built a frame house on his land, and cleared forty acres in 1840-'41. In August, 1841, he was elected treasurer of

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HISTORY OF JAY COUNTY.

Jay County, being nominated by the Whig party. He was three times re-elected by the. people, and held that office twelve consecu- tive years, serving with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He resigned the office of treasurer June 10, 1853, he hav- ing previously been elected treasurer of the Cincinnati, Union & Fort Wayne Railroad, which he held four or five years. While treasurer of Jay County he acted as agent for many non-residents in selling their lands, buying and selling many tracts of land, and it was a common saying that " Votaw never bought a poor piece of land, and you can bet the title thereto is good." He was married September 8, 1842, to Ann Brown, daughter of Aaron and Mary Brown, and immediately after his marriage located at Portland, and at once became interested in the improvement and development of that city. He has since lived in Portland, or the immediate vicinity, his present residence being about one mile from the business center. To Mr. and Mrs. Votaw were born seven children-Wilson C., was born August 10, 1843; August 10, 1861, he volunteered in Company C, Thirty-ninth Regiment Indiana Infantry; was a Sergeant of Captain George F. Winter's Company (C), Eighth Regiment of Indiana Veteran Cav- alry Volunteers; was enrolled on the 12th day of February, 1864, to serve three years, or during the war; was honorably discharged from the service of the United States July 20, 1865, at Lexington, North Carolina, by order of the Secretary of War; and was married Octo- ber 21, 1866, to Jane Simmons; Ruth A., born April 18, 1845, was married in Sep- tember, 1860, to A. J. Callahan, a farmer residing near Johnstown, Bates County, Mis- souri; Mary R., born May 7, 1847, was married September 20, 1866, to D. A. Henry, a farmer living near Clinton, Henry County, Missouri; Sarah G., born August 6, 1851,

was married September 7, 1879, to J. R. Coulson, a farmer residing two miles sonth- west of Portland; Howard E., born Decem- ber 30, 1853, married November 14, 1885,- to Ollie M. Milligan, and is engaged in farın- ing two miles west of Portland; Homer S., born January 26, 1856, is a ticket and freight agent, and also telegraph operator for the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company, now located at Sinith's Mill, Minnesota; John J., born March 10, 1859, died October 23, 1859. Mrs. Votaw died March 18, 1859, aged thirty-three years, ten months and twenty-seven days. Mr. Votaw was again married June 17, 1861, to Lizzie K. Dresser, a daughter of John Dresser, who lived near Old Stockbridge, Berkshire County, Massa- clmsetts. She had a liberal education and followed school teaching for several years. She was an exemplary Christian, a member of the Congregational church. To this mar- riage were born five children-James F., born and died June 19, 1862; Clara B., born June 26, 1863, is now clerking for lier brother, Homer S., in the office of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company at Sinithi's Mill, Minnesota; Lillian K., born Jannary 22, 1866, was married April 9, 1887, to John E. Bishop, a teacher in the Portland City Normal School; Henry J., born September 12, 1867, a teacher in the Portland Normal school; Emma L., born June 17, 1871. Mrs. Votaw died July 13, 1874, aged forty-three years, seven months and nineteen days, and lived and died a de- voted Christian. August 10, 1875, Mr. Vo- taw married at Little York, Olio, Mrs. N. J. (Perdew) Case, daughter of Philip and Amy M. Perdew. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania, born September 2, 1805, and her mother was born near Providence, Rhode Island, August 2, 1813. The latter was of French extraction, the third cousin of Mar-

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

quis de La Fayette, her maiden name being Des Trees. Mrs. Votaw is a Christian wo- man, in early life joining the Methodist church. She was first married July 9, 1857, when seventeen years of age, to Augustus B. Case, and to them were born two children -- Amy L., born June 18, 1858, and died the day of her birth; Cecil E. A., born May 16, 1860, was married February 19, 1881, to Etta B. White, who died September 20, 1884, aged twenty-one years. Both were members

of the Christian church. Augustus B. Case was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, en- listing in 1861 in the Fifty-fifth Ohio Infantry. He veteranized January 22, 1864, and was killed at the battle of Re- seca, Georgia, May 15, 1864, at the age of twenty-six years. He was a brave soldier, and a true Christian. Cecil E. A. Case now lives with his parents, and is engaged in farming. Jonas Votaw was appointed and commissioned by Governor Oliver P. Morton director of the Northern Indiana State Prison to serve for a terin of two years, from March 11, 1861, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Colonel Milt. Robinson, which position he accepted and filled with satisfaction to the State. He was also postmaster at College Corner, Jay Coun- ty, for five or six years, which position he resigned February 15, 1872. February 22, 1853, the Cincinnati, Union & Fort Wayne Railroad Company was organized, and Jonas Votaw was chosen treasurer, which position he filled satisfactorily for six years, when the company failed, and was finally dissolved in 1863. The citizens of Portland and Jay County were heavy losers by the failure of this enterprise, they having expended about $100,000 in grubbing and grading the rail- road bed from Union City to Portland, Indiana, a distance of twenty miles. This railroad bed still remains unironed, but the

prospects are that in the near future it will be utilized. Mr. Votaw was appointed chair- man of a commission by a Congress of the United States, said commission being to parti- tion the Me-shin-go-me-sia Reservation in Grant and Wabash counties, Indiana, under Act of Congress of June 1, 1872. In said reservation there were abont ten sections of land which had never been surveyed. In the spring of 1873 the commission com- menced work and was occupied about ten weeks, by which time they liad sectioned of the land, and divided it per capita among the band of Me-shin-go-me-sia, consisting of sixty-six Indians, making each division alınost 100 acres. Mr. Votaw took an active interest in the organization of the Jay Coun- ty Agricultural, Horticultural and Industrial Joint Stock Company, which was incorporated December 21, 1871, with which he has since been identified either as president or director. The fairs have always proved a success finan- cially, and the growth and breeds of all kinds of stock have been greatly improved, and the general interests of the country have been developed by the society's progressive course. Mr. Votaw was chosen a delegate from the Eleventh Congressional District of Indiana to represent said district in the National Republican Convention that convened in Chicago, June 3, 1884, which resulted in the nomination of James G. Blaine for President, and John A. Logan for Vice President. He took an active part to secure the nomination of Mr. Blaine. Mr. Votaw is a public spirited citizen, and has given liberally of his ineans to all public enterprises for the devel- opment of the city of Portland, and the country at large, doing all in his power to secure railroads to Portland, and gravel roads throughout the county, and has aided in the support of schools and churches from the early settlement of the county to the present

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Author: Publication date: 1887 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 922

Author:
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 922